New school is not the right solution for Newmarket

Friday

Feb 7, 2014 at 2:00 AM

Neighbors: It grieves us greatly to tell you that my wife and I are no longer supportive of the goals of Newmarket Solutions. Believe me, when this all began a year or more ago we were firmly in your corner because we have always believed — and have been prepared to pay with our resources — that our childrens' educations deserve the best possible effort. However, and I say this as an educator with more than 35 years of professional classroom experience — I and my wife are convinced that Newmarket "dropped the ball" when it took steps that leave the town quite alone in dealing with the needs of our students.

To the Editor:

Neighbors: It grieves us greatly to tell you that my wife and I are no longer supportive of the goals of Newmarket Solutions. Believe me, when this all began a year or more ago we were firmly in your corner because we have always believed — and have been prepared to pay with our resources — that our childrens' educations deserve the best possible effort. However, and I say this as an educator with more than 35 years of professional classroom experience — I and my wife are convinced that Newmarket "dropped the ball" when it took steps that leave the town quite alone in dealing with the needs of our students. We have talked with many long-time residents of the town, some of whom have no professional background but much good sense and much thought. The conclusion to which all of us have come to is that the superintendant of schools failed in his responsibility to press the potential Oyster River resolution to a satisfactory conclusion.

The bottom line is that for Newmarket, with its relatively small demographic base, is simply too small to support and maintain a middle and high school with the necessary programs that are essential in the 21st century.

Ideally, one solution is to return to a possible relationship with Oyster River, because of geographic proximity and related factors. If that is clearly proven to be impossible, then an alternative solution must be found for Newmarket in a relationship with another high school effort, for example with Exeter, or with Stratham. But under no circumstances do we believe that an expenditure of either $45 million or $50 million will result in a high school program of the sort that our children deserve. For that reason, we will not be supporting the effort by Newmarket Solutions to seek approval for a large-scale effort of the sort you propose.

Advertise

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
seacoastonline.com ~ 111 New Hampshire Ave., Portsmouth, NH 03801 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service